# How do you drive Transalpina? Short version — from Bucharest or Targu Jiu: the south gate, Novaci; from Sibiu: the north gate, Sebes; the traverse: 134.7 km / 3h39 with no stops. DN67C with measured access from 3 bases, segments, stops and the official rules. Below: the full verdict, the segments and measured access. ## The quick verdict - South gate: Novaci — From Bucharest (Unirii) 259.4 km / 245 min; from Targu Jiu 44.2 / 56 — the nearest base to a gate. Traverse to Sebes: 134.7 / 219 (measured sum). - North gate: Sebes — From Sibiu 55.8 km / 60 min. Traverse to Novaci: 134.6 / 219 (measured sum). Pick it if coming from Transylvania. - A single day: Only from Sibiu or Targu Jiu — From Sibiu: 60 min to Sebes + traverse; from Targu Jiu: 56 min to Novaci. Not doable from Bucharest in a day: just getting to Novaci is 259.4 km. - Weekend: Two days, no rush — Day 1: gate + climb to Ranca–Urdele; day 2: Obarsia–Sebes. Measured segments: 18.6 / 29.5 / 86.5 km. - Alpine only: Novaci–Ranca–Obarsia — Novaci–Ranca 18.6/42 + Ranca–Obarsia 29.5/71. From Targu Jiu via Novaci: 62.7/98 to Ranca. Ranca–Curpat sector: 30 km/h, closed at night. - With photo stops: Add breaks — Editorial recommendation: the measured 219 min assume no stops — Urdele (2,145 m), Ranca and Obarsia take extra time. Leave in the morning. ## Access, measured by road - Piața Unirii → Novaci: 259.4 km, 245 min - Piața Unirii → Rânca: 274.9 km, 284 min - Piața Unirii → Obârșia Lotrului: 286.8 km, 262 min - Piața Unirii → Sebeș: 325.9 km, 293 min - Sibiu → Novaci: 178.6 km, 212 min - Sibiu → Rânca: 117.0 km, 202 min - Sibiu → Obârșia Lotrului: 87.5 km, 131 min - Sibiu → Sebeș: 55.8 km, 60 min - Târgu Jiu → Novaci: 44.2 km, 56 min - Târgu Jiu → Rânca: 62.7 km, 98 min - Târgu Jiu → Obârșia Lotrului: 85.4 km, 137 min - Târgu Jiu → Sebeș: 185.1 km, 224 min ## The stops, in order ### The segments, compared - Novaci – Ranca: 18.6 km (both directions); 42 min - Ranca – Obarsia Lotrului: 29.5 km (both directions); 71 min - Obarsia Lotrului – Sebes: 86.5–86.6 km (directions measured separately); 106 min - Traverse Novaci → Sebes: 134.7 km (measured sum); 219 min - Traverse Sebes → Novaci: 134.6 km (measured sum); 219 min ### Novaci - South gate of the measured route: DN67C to Ranca 18.6 km / 42 min. - From Bucharest (Unirii) 259.4 km / 245 min; from Targu Jiu 44.2 / 56. - Last town before the climb — leave with a full tank (editorial advice: no official source found for fuel on the alpine sector). Route entry from the south; the day's status: the CNAIR dispatch. ### Rânca - The alpine sector Ranca–Curpat starts here (km 34.8–79.2, CNAIR dispatch). - 2026 rules: 30 km/h, over 3.5 t banned, closed at night. - From Novaci 18.6/42; from Targu Jiu via Novaci 62.7/98 (measured). A stop on the route; current restrictions: the CNAIR dispatch. ### Pasul Urdele - The road's highest point: 2,145 m (single municipal source — Visit Alba Iulia). - The highest road in Romania, on DN67C between Ranca and Obarsia. - Ranca–Obarsia segment: 29.5 km / 71 min (measured). Photo stop on the alpine segment, by day (closed at night). ### Obârșia Lotrului - A stop midway on the route, on DN67C. - From Ranca 29.5/71; toward Sebes 86.6/106 (direction measured separately). - From Sibiu 87.5/131; from Unirii 286.8/262 (measured). Halfway between the two gates. ### Șugag - A commune on DN67C, on the descent toward Sebes. - The Obarsia–Sebes sector passes here: 86.5–86.6 km / 106 min. - North end of the long mountain sector (Curpat, km 79.2, ends the alpine sector). On the route to Sebes, past Obarsia Lotrului. ### Sebeș - North gate: DN67C to Obarsia 86.5 km / 106 min. - From Sibiu 55.8/60 — the nearest base to a gate. - Full traverse to Novaci: 134.6/219 (measured sum). Route entry from the north; the day's status: the CNAIR dispatch. ## Practical ### Status 2026: reopened 29 May on Ranca–Curpat, listed valid until 31 Oct 2026, 20:00 (CNAIR dispatch). Check dispecerat.andnet.ro on departure morning. Season history: [the Transfagarasan guide](https://mariuscomper.uk/transfagarasan/). ### Rules On Ranca–Curpat (km 34.8–79.2): 30 km/h, over 3.5 t banned, closed at night. Daytime 09–20 (May–June) and 07–21 (July–August); for September–October the dispatch gives no hours — daytime only. ### Money Check the rovignette on cnadnr.ro (Rovinieta section). No other road tariff found published. Emergencies: 112. ### Bases Unirii → Novaci 259.4/245; Sibiu → Sebes 55.8/60; Tg-Jiu → Novaci 44.2/56 (no traffic). Leave with a full tank from the gate: alpine fuel has no official source. ## Questions ### How high does the road go? 2,145 m at Pasul Urdele — the highest road in Romania (single municipal source). The Ranca–Obarsia segment, with Urdele midway, is 29.5 km / 71 min. ### How long is the traverse? 134.7 km / 219 min Novaci→Sebes with no stops (measured sum). With photo breaks at Urdele and Ranca, allow a full day (editorial advice). ### Which gate do I use? From Bucharest or Targu Jiu: the south gate, Novaci (259.4 / 44.2 km). From Sibiu: the north gate, Sebes (55.8 km). ### Can I drive it at night? Not on Ranca–Curpat: the dispatch says explicitly it is closed at night. By day: 07–21 in July–August; otherwise hours are unpublished — leave in the morning. ### Is the whole route paved? DN67C was properly paved in 2009 (municipal source) — it is a national road, not a forest track. The hairpins and the 30 km/h limit remain (dispatch). ### Can I take a caravan? Over 3.5 t: banned on Ranca–Curpat. Under 3.5 t: no published ban found — but hairpins and the 30 km/h limit make it a bad idea (editorial advice). ## Sources - [CNAIR — official dispatch (DN67C)](https://dispecerat.andnet.ro/) - [Visit Alba Iulia — Transalpina (municipal)](https://visitalbaiulia.city/day-trip-to-transalpina/) - [CNAIR — rovignette](https://www.cnadnr.ro/verificare-rovinieta) - [Transfagarasan guide — season history](https://mariuscomper.uk/transfagarasan/)